The Akal Takht (eternal throne; AT) proceedings on 2 Dec have invited widespread appreciation over how the SAD leaders were compelled to confess their crimes and seek forgiveness. However, there is also an undercurrent that the tankhah (salary, implying punishment) was only symbolic and not enough. The AT was in a position to impose a significant ban on Sukhbir Singh Badal’s holding office in SAD or any other Sikh organization. That could have opened doors to Sikh political groups who differ from SAD to come together as instructed by the AT. Narain Singh Chaura’s attempt to assassinate Badal as he performed his service as a guard of Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) is being seen as an expression of this resentment and is being celebrated in some Sikh circles (SDW Vol 2, Issue 49, Story 3). While the attempt has been condemned for being poorly timed, its raison d’etre has not been questioned since everyone is familiar with the long list of the Badal family’s excesses. In a conference in Moga on 5 Dec, the Dal Khalsa praised Chaura. Meanwhile, members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) met Jathedar (leader) Giani Raghbir Singh, seeking Chaura’s excommunication. Former SGPC general secretary Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said that AT ‘does not hear cases of intention to murder’ and added, ‘it makes no sense to seek Chaura’s excommunication.’ Sikh organizations have also asked the AT to restore the services of the Panj Piaras (beloved-enthroned), who had the courage to raise their voice against the pardon of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim in 2015, and had resigned in early 2016.
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